TORNADOES of South Dorset took five swimmers to the Hengrove 50m pool in Bristol for the Level One Aquae Sulis Grand Prix, in what was their first competitive open meet of the year.

Being an early season long-course event, there was no pressure placed on the swimmers to perform, it was more of a guide to see how training was going.

The weekend saw all the swimmers produce some really good times and gain some great experience.

First to go was 13-year-old Joshua Frampton, who started with the 100m freestyle and recorded the club’s first regional consideration time for the 2015 season with an impressive swim.

He then followed that with an equally eye-catching 100m breaststroke to gain another regional consideration time.

His last swim was in the 200m freestyle and the youngster was just outside the regional time but he now knows what is required to claim that one as well.

Jenny Scott, 17, was next up and she had a great weekend, claiming regional qualifying times in the 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m and 100m backstroke, and 50m and 100m fly.

She also picked up a full set of medals and broke two club records in the process.

Josh Rowe, 13, had just one event, the 50m backstroke, but still produced a new personal best, edging ever closer to the regional time for 2015.

His brother, Charlie, nine, was at his first long course meet. As he is too young to qualify for the regionals, he made do with two bronze medals and personal bests to go with them from the 50m backstroke and 200m freestyle.

Last to swim was Aaron Griffin, also nine, and at his first long-course meet as well.

He had a busy schedule but also managed to secure himself a bronze medal in the 200m IM, plus six lifetime bests and a wealth of experience.

Lead coach Chris Beal was delighted with the performance. He said: “The swimmers have been going well in the Arena League but this is totally different. To turn up at a long-course meet and achieve these results just shows how well they are all training.

“They seem well on course to take advantage of the new competition structure recently introduced by British Swimming.”

Anyone wishing to join Tornadoes of South Dorset to learn to swim, swim competitively or access extra training, contact the club secretary via tornadoessecretary@btinternet.com to arrange an assessment.